Chapter 64 : Fish head stewed with vermicelli

The news spread throughout Bailutang by the afternoon. When Jiang Li heard it at home, she burst into laughter.

‘I have to say, the villagers are gossipy, and there’s no entertainment. Whenever there’s any small news, the villagers will turn it over and over again, pondering it endlessly.’

While Chen Xianyun was sewing the soles of shoes, she also said, “Who spread this rumor? Last time, they said Sanzhu from our village was dating someone, but it turned out she was just someone else’s cousin’s wife. It was all a lie. Anyway, I don’t believe it…”

Old Lady Qi also nodded, “I don’t believe it either.”

Jiang Li praised her mother-in-law in her heart while cutting the edamame that Chen Xianyun had just brought home. “Mom, can you make edamame for dinner?”

“Yes, I’ll stew the big fish. How do you want to eat the pears, steamed or braised?”

Jiang Li raised her hand, “Mom, do you have sweet potato flour? Can I make sweet potato vermicelli with the fish head?”

“Sweet potato vermicelli? Oh, it’s just vermicelli. We don’t have any at home. I’ll go to Tiedan’s house to exchange some. It’s the same as before. You tell me how to make it, and I’ll make it for you.”

“Mom, the fish head is big, let’s stew half of it and add some tofu. The old lady can’t eat chili.”

Chen Xianyun smiled and said, “Okay.”

Old Lady Qi approached Jiang Li like a child and asked, “Lizi, how are your sales today?”

Jiang Li smiled, “Not bad. There are only two or three left. I made seven dollars today.”

Chen Xianyun also smiled. She knew that was a decent amount. The basket that Lizi used to hold the hair ties was now empty.

The old lady nodded and fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan. “You’re still smart because you studied. If I had known, I would have studied more with that young lady.”

Seeing Jiang Li’s puzzled look, Chen Xianyun explained, “In the past, our family was poor, and the old lady worked as a personal maid for a wealthy family.”

Jiang Li suddenly realized, and Old Lady Qi continued, “From now on, the younger generations in the family must study. If people don’t study, they won’t understand the truth, and their brains won’t be able to turn around.”

“The old lady is right. Not everyone has the brains to do business like Lizi,” Chen Xianyun added.

Chen Xianyun felt a little relieved but was still very worried.

The situation had been so tense in the past few years that even peddlers walking the streets were not allowed. Now Jiang Li says she wants to do business again.

Ever since Lizi carried her things into the city, Chen Xianyun had been feeling unsettled.

Fortunately, an old lady kept advising her, saying that the higher-ups had relaxed the policy and that a large group of people nearby were raising rabbits, and that there were many stalls near the train station. Only then did she feel reassured.

“Shaoqiang’s back?” Chen Xianyun was the first to notice Qi Shaoqiang returning home.

“Mom, what’s wrong with your face?”

Chen Xianyun was stunned and felt a sore spot on her cheekbone. It must be a bruise.

“It’s just those gossipers in the village who are jealous of our good life and gossip about us.”

Qi Shaoqiang frowned, “Mom, who bullied you?”

Afraid that Qi Shaoqiang would hear the gossip from outsiders and it would affect his relationship with Lizi, Chen Xianyun quickly said, “It was the neighbor next door who instigated it, and a few gossipers added fuel to the fire. It’s okay. Lizi and I teamed up to beat them up. They have to review their behavior at the meeting tomorrow. We didn’t suffer any loss at all.”

Old Lady Qi slowly called out names, “Especially Sun Xiufang’s husband, Zhuang Daqiang, relying on the fact that he is a man, he wants to attack us!”

Qi Shaoqiang secretly memorized the name and prepared to go out to the village to ask after dinner.

For dinner, Jiang Li had the fish head and vermicelli she had been looking for. The fish head was golden on both sides, the dried tofu was fragrant and tasty, the brown vermicelli broke easily with a pinch of chopsticks, and the bubbling red soup was sprinkled with chopped green onions.

The whole family was sweating while eating, and in the end, they even finished the soup at the bottom of the pot by dipping it in the steamed buns.

The dealer next door smelled the smell and started cursing again. Zhao Xiangyu felt so jealous that her heart was bubbling. “There’s so much money every day that it makes my hands ache. All day long, it’s either fish or meat. They’re so eager for others to know what they’re eating! Why don’t they just eat themselves to death, those evil-minded people. It would be better if they got seriously ill from eating.”

Cheng Yanyan, holding her stomach, stared at the egg custard on the table, not taking her eyes off it. “Mom, your eldest grandson is hungry. Give me some eggs too.”

“Why would an adult fight with a child for eggs? Why are you so greedy?”

“Mom, why don’t you stew an egg for Yanyan? We have eggs at home. Besides, Yanyan is eating for two now, how can she give birth to a grandson for you if she doesn’t eat enough?”

“Go get one and cook it yourself later.”

Zhao Xiangyu finally gave in, but Wu Meili was very dissatisfied. The second family was usually lazy and gluttonous, and she didn’t know how many snacks they had secretly eaten. It wasn’t enough for Zhuang Dabao, their son, to eat one egg every other day. Now the second son and his wife also wanted eggs. How could they have the face to ask for them?

Her mother-in-law was biased. Wu Meili was so angry that she kicked Zhuang Laoda hard under the table. Seeing the glare from his wife, Zhuang Lao Da shrank his head and continued eating.

Seeing his cowardly behavior, Wu Meili became even angrier and said, “Mom, these chickens were fed by me and the third brother’s family. My second brother’s wife doesn’t usually work, but now that she’s pregnant and precious, she still wants to eat eggs? Did I eat eggs when I was pregnant? Not only did I have to work hard, but I didn’t even get to eat meat. I don’t agree to this!”

Zhao Xiangyu slammed the bowl onto the table and glared. “Is it your turn to be the boss in this family? Why are you eating eggs when you’ve given birth to two girls? Are they worthy? Your second brother’s wife is pregnant with a boy. If you’re not happy, just go back home right now. You’re so old and didn’t even leave a single incense stick for our eldest son, and you still have the nerve to yell for eggs!”

Cheng Yanyan proudly puffed out her belly and said, “Yes, sister-in-law, your belly has been still since you gave birth to Sanya, so you should go and have a check-up soon.”

Wu Meili was so angry that her face turned red, and she pinched her palms hard. The five-year-old Sanya, next to her, couldn’t hold her chopsticks steady and accidentally dropped them on the ground. Wu Meili grabbed her and beat her severely.

“You can’t even eat properly! What good are you, you little brat!”

Sanya was beaten so hard that she burst into tears. Da Ya and Er Ya huddled together, crying and shouting, “Mom, please stop beating me.”

Wu Meili became more and more annoyed by the crying, and she became more ruthless. San Ya’s face was swollen like a steamed bun.

It was all because of these girls. If she had given birth to a boy, she wouldn’t have to feel inferior to the second brother’s family. It was all their fault!